Saludar in risky Puerto Rico defense
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 04 Aug 2019
WBO minimumweight champion Vic Saludar of Cotabato del Sur stakes his crown against mandatory challenger Wilfredo (Bimbito) Mendez in the Ballroom of the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan on Aug. 24 with the daunting task of overcoming the homecourt disadvantage in his second title defense.
Saludar, 28, is one of four reigning Filipino world champions with super WBA welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao, super WBA bantamweight beltholder Nonito Donaire, Jr. and IBF superflyweight ruler Jerwin Ancajas the others. He took the WBO 105-pound title on a unanimous 12-round decision over Ryuya Yamanaka in Kobe last July and turned back Masataka Taniguchi in his first defense in Tokyo last February. Saludar?s record is 19-3, with 10 KOs. His losses were to Powell Balaba via retirement in Cagayan de Oro in 2013, Kosei Tanaka on a sixth round stoppage in Nagoya in 2015 and Toto Landero on a split 10-round decision in Mandaue in 2017.
Mendez, 22, is the new ?nino bonito? of Puerto Rico where the WBO is based. He rose to the No. 1 position despite a low quality of opposition with nine of his 13 victories coming against fighters with more losses than wins. A victim Ramon Cedano was beaten twice by Mendez, once when his record was 2-38 and a second time when it was 2-41. Another victim Yenrry Bermudez had a record of 7-25-2 when he lost an eight-round decision to Mendez last year. A southpaw, Mendez has a 13-1 record, with 5 KOs. His only loss was a decision to Leyman Benavides in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he has fought in eight bouts.
?We?re very optimistic of this defense because of Vic?s experience and skill level,? said Saludar?s manager Kenneth Rontal. ?However, our concern is Mendez? hometown advantage. We?ve already requested the WBO president (Paco Valcarcel) to provide a neutral referee and neutral judges.?
Saludar is deep in training with coach Jojo Palacios and chief sparmate Dave Apolinario in General Santos City. His team will leave for San Juan on Aug. 19. Apolinario, 20, is a 5-5 lefthander like Mendez and has a record of 11-0, with 6 KOs. Palacios has trained Saludar in his last five fights which he swept.
Making weight is no problem for Saludar. ?Vic is comfortable at 105,? said Rontal. ?He has no difficulty getting the weight so we are in good condition. Vic is happy in training camp every time we do it in General Santos so he?s doing well. We don?t really like to make presumptions on percentage chances of winning. But we?re positive on the outcome.?
The fight will be broadcast live on Wapa Deportes and is the first boxing event in the Ballroom of the Puerto Rico Convention Center. PR Best Boxing Promotions president Ivan Rivera said it will be an edition of the Casino Metro Boxing Nights series. ?We have worked hard to bring this fight to Puerto Rico and we managed to do it here,? said Raul Pastrana, president of Spartan Boxing which represents Mendez. ?We are confident that Bimbito can become a world champion and fill the emptiness of champions we have at the moment.?
Through the years, Puerto Rico has produced several world champions, including Carlos Ortiz, Wilfred Benitez, McJoe Arroyo, Danny Garcia, Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Vazquez, Hector Camacho, Wilfredo Gomez and Jose Torres but there is no reigning Puerto Rican world titlist today.
Photo: WBO minimumweight champion Vic Saludar (right) lands a right flush on challenger Masataka Taniguchi?s face in his first title defense in Tokyo last February.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
Wed, 28 Jan 2026